Nearer, My God, to Thee

Sarah Flower Adams' (1805-1848) pastor asked her and her sister to help him prepare a hymnal, and the two responded eagerly, writing thirteen texts and sixty-two new tunes!  As the sisters were completing their work, their pastor mentioned he was planning a sermon on Jacob's dream of a ladder ascending to heaven and he needed an appropriate hymn.  Adams soon completed the five stanzas of "Nearer, My God, to Thee."  Her own life was a difficult one which included many losses, not the least of which was her own mother who died when Sarah was only five years old.  She learned, as we have learned, that our steps along life's path, even those steps which are difficult or painful or filled with loss, only draw us nearer to God as He carries us through such times, also ministering to us with His holy angels who strengthen us in our weakness.  "For are they [angels] not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?"  (Hebrews 1:16)

1.  Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

     E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me;

     Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee,

     Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee.

2.  Though like a wanderer, the sun gone down,

     Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;

     Yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God, to Thee,

     Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee.

3.  There let the way appear steps unto heav'n;

     All that Thou sendest me in mercy giv'n;

     Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee,

     Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee.

4.  Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,

     Out of my stony griefs, Bethel I'll raise;

     So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee,

     Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee.

5.  Or if on joyful wing, cleaving the sky,

     Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly,

     Still all my song shall be nearer, my God, to Thee,

     Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee.

The Tree of Life

Holy Cross Day

1. The tree of life with ev’ry good
    In Eden’s holy orchard stood,
        And of its fruit so pure and sweet
        God let the man and woman eat.
    Yet in this garden also grew
    Another tree, of which they knew;
        Its lovely limbs with fruit adorned
        Against whose eating God had warned.

2. The stillness of that sacred grove
    Was broken, as the serpent strove
        With tempting voice Eve to beguile
        And Adam too by sin defile.
    O day of sadness when the breath
    Of fear and darkness, doubt and death,
        Its awful poison first displayed
        Within the world so newly made.

3. What mercy God showed to our race,
    A plan of rescue by His grace:
        In sending One from woman’s seed,
        The One to fill our greatest need—
    For on a tree uplifted high
    His only Son for sin would die,
        Would drink the cup of scorn and dread
        To crush the ancient serpent’s head!

4. Now from that tree of Jesus’ shame
    Flows life eternal in His name;
        For all who trust and will believe,
        Salvation’s living fruit receive.
    And of this fruit so pure and sweet
    The Lord invites the world to eat,
        To find within this cross of wood
        The tree of life with ev’ry good.

My Soul, Now Praise Your Maker

Fred Precht writes in Lutheran Worship Hymnal Companion about this marvelous hymn text: "This hymn by Johann Gramann was written, according to the great Lutheran theologian Martin Chemnitz, one of the authors of the Formula of Concord, at the request of Albrecht the Elder, Duke of Prussia, a follower of Luther's and staunch supporter of the Reformation.  Albrecht asked for a hymn based on his favorite psalm, Psalm 103, a beautiful psalm in praise of the God of all grace."

Psalm 103 is one of my favorite psalms too.  We sang this hymn today in our Matins worship services here at St. John-Amelith.  What a gloriously strong text!  As the summer flowers fade and fall approaches, one is given an object lesson in the brevity of life contrasted to the steadfast, everlasting love of God.

1.  My soul, now praise your Maker!

         Let all within me bless His name

     Who makes you full partaker

         Of mercies more than you dare claim.

             Forget Him not whose meekness

                  Still bears with all your sin,

              Who heals your ev'ry weakness,

                  Renews your life within;

                       Whose grace and care are endless

                           And saved you through the past;

                       Who leaves no suff'rer friendless

                           But rights the wronged at last.

2.  He offers all His treasure

         Of justice, truth, and righteousness,

     His love beyond all measure,

         His yearning pity o'er distress;

              Nor treats us as we merit

                  But sets His anger by.

              The poor and contrite spirit

                  Finds His compassion nigh;

                       As high as heav'n above us,

                           As dawn from close of day,

                       So far, since He has loved us,

                           He puts our sins away.

3.  For as a tender father

         Has pity on His children here,

      God in His arms will gather

         All who are His in childlike fear.

              He knows how frail our powers,

                  Who but from dust are made.

              We flourish like the flowers,

                  And even so we fade;

                       The wind but through them passes,

                           And all their bloom is o'er

                       We wither like the grasses;

                           Our place knows us no more.

4.  His grace remains forever,

         And children's children yet shall prove

     That God forsakes them never

         Who in true fear shall seek His love.

              In heav'n is fixed His dwelling,

                  His rule is over all;

              O hosts with might excelling,

                  With praise before Him fall,

                       Praise Him forever reigning,

                           All you who hear His Word--

                       Our life and all sustaining.

                           My soul, O praise the Lord!

Did Not Brave Esther Speak

John Mc Cain's choice of Alaska governor Sarah Palin took me and many by surprise.  Her tenure as governor of the 49th state of our nation has included the confrontation of corruption within her own Republican party and bold leadership to improve her state.  Who had heard of her or her work before today?  A few, but not many.  What touched me most today after being introduced as John Mc Cain's choice for a running mate was her commitment to life in the birth of her Down Syndrome son.  The two parties running for office this fall are in stark contrast to each other on many issues but especially on life issues: one is pro-choice; the other is pro-life.  I firmly believe that the Word of God is crystal clear in this area:  no one has the right to choose death for the unborn child! God is the giver of life and it is indeed a sacred gift to be cherished.  Yet we live in a dying world where pro-death forces threaten to sweep into power in a dramatic way.  I believe that Christians must speak up and make their voice heard in the upcoming election.  Life is sacred.  It remains under attack and must be protected.

This hymn text was commissioned by composer Stephen R. Johnson for Mary Ragonesi Johnson.  His tune, MARY'S DAUGHTER, was written by him for the text.  The text speaks of women who have been used by God in their lives of faithful witness and service.  It begins by telling of Esther, whose bold actions prevented the Jews of her day from being eradicated.  It continues by recalling the women who did not desert our Lord even as the forces of darkness sought to snuff the Light of the world.   Other women from the New Testament era are briefly highlighted in the third stanza.  The fourth stanza calls upon us to dare to live for Christ as we daily deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow our Savior. May we continue to be inspired by such biblical women and by faithful women in our own day!

1.  Did not brave Esther speak to free

         Her people from their doom?

     She dared confront a treachery

         That would her race entomb.

     Has God not brought you to this place

         For such a time as this,

     To speak His Word of light and grace

         So none its truth dismiss?

2.  What tender care the women showed

         When Christ was crucified!

     With tears and prayers their love bestowed

          As Jesus bled and died.

     Those faithful Marys shared the gloom

         Of Jesus' bitter strife;

     They came with spices to the tomb,

         Yet found Him raised to life!

3.  O sing of Anna, prophetess,

         The temple was her home;

     Of Phoebe, faithful deaconess,

          Who brought Paul's words to Rome;

     Of Lydia, whose cloth was dyed

          With hospitality;

     Their lives of service magnified

          The Holy Trinity.

4.   God summons you to truly care,

          To weep with those who cry,

      To take your cross and for Christ dare

          To live and self deny,

      To give till wealth is sacrificed

          For those in pressing need,

      That all may see in you the Christ--

          His love your living creed.

Lord, It Belongs Not to My Care

St. Paul writes in Philippians 4:11-13  "For I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.  In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me." 

One might assume from this hymn text that Richard Baxter lived a quiet life of a British gentleman.  Not so.  This seventeenth century English clergyman was too Puritanical for the Anglican bishops and too Episcopalian for the Presbyterians.  Baxter was always getting into trouble.  And the Puritans didn't like him because he was a champion of church music.

When Richard Baxter was 70 years old, he was brought before a judge and accused of writing a paraphrase of the New Testament.  The judge called him "an old rogue, a hypocritical villian, a fanatical dog, and a sniveling Presbyterian."  The judge proceeded to have Baxter whipped and jailed in the Tower of London.

This hymn was written as a commentary on Philippians 1:21 "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."  It was dedicated to Baxter's wife, who had died a few years earlier after a lengthy illness.  Baxter's life was one of constant struggles, but he was content to leave such matters in God's hands.

1.  Lord, it belongs not to my care

         Whether I die or live;

     To love and serve Thee is my share,

        And this Thy grace must give.

2.  If life be long, I will be glad

         That I may long obey;

     If short, yet why should I be sad

         To soar to endless day?

3.  Christ leads me through no darker rooms

         Than He went through before;

     He that unto God's kingdom comes

         Must enter by this door.

4.  Come, Lord, when grace has made me meet

        Thy blessed face to see;

     For if Thy work on earth be sweet,

        What will Thy glory be!

5.  Then shall I end my sad complaints

        And weary, sinful days

     And join with the triumphant saints

        Who sing my Savior's praise.

6.  My knowledge of that life is small,

        The eye of faith is dim;

     But 'tis enough that Christ knows all,

        And I shall be with Him.